Prof.

Abad Ali
M.phil
Statistics
Business Research Method

The term paradigm described as essentially a collection of beliefs

shared by scientists, a set of agreements about how problems are to be
understood, how we view the world and thus go about conducting
research. These paradigms contain a basic set of beliefs or
assumptions that guide our inquiries (Guba & Lincoln, 2005).During
the past century, different paradigms have taken birth due to the
remarkable growth in social sciences research. There are mainly three
paradigms to the verification of theoretical propositions, i.e.
positivism, interpretivism and pragmatism
RESEARCH PARADIGMS/ WORLD VIEWS

WHY THESE PARADIGMS

ARE IMPORTANT
All researchers need a foundation for its inquiry and
researchers need to be aware of the paradigms they bring
to their study. Different modes of research allow us to
understand different phenomena and for different reasons
(Deetz, 1996). The Paradigm chosen depends on what
one is trying to do rather than a commitment to a
particular paradigm (Cavaye, 1996). Thus, the Paradigm
employed must match the particular phenomenon of
interest. Different phenomena may require the use of
different

Three worldviews/paradigms
Interpretivism
used in research
Positivism
Pragmatism
Determination

Understanding

Reductionism

Multiple

Empirical
observation
measurement
Theory
verification

and

Consequences

of

actions

participant

Problem centered

meanings

Pluralistic

Social

and Real-world

historical
construction
Theory generation

SOURCE: Creswell, 2003

practice oriented

Assumption Of Paradigms
Ontology

(What are knowledge)

Epistemology (How we know it)
Axiology
(what value go into it)
Rhetoric
(How we write about it )
Methodology (Process of research)

Positivism:Positivist assumes that true knowledge is based on experience of senses and

can be obtained by observation and experiment. Positivistic thinkers adopt
scientific methods as a means to generate knowledge. Positivism is called
Scientific Method, Empirical Science, Post Positivism and Quantitative
Research.
Interpretivism: Interpretivism sometimes also called Constructivism, Social Constructivism
and Qualitative Research. In this paradigm, an individual seeks an
understanding of the world in which they live and work. They develop
subjective meanings of their experiences or towards certain objects or things.
Pragmatism: The final paradigm is typically associated with mixed method research. The
goal of pragmatic research is not to replace either of these approaches but
rather to draw from the strengths and minimize the weaknesses of both in
single research studies and across studies (Johnson & Onwuegbuzie, 2004).

Sr. Philosophical
#

assumption

1.

Ontology: What

is

Positivism

Interpretivism

Singular
the existing

reality Multiple
apart

nature of reality? researchers

OR

what

knowledge?

and and

cultural

hypothesis.

researchers

assumptions. test

hypothesis

to

and

provide

e.g. researchers provide multiple

e.g. researchers reject quotes

fail

and

understanding e.g.

biases. (constructionism).

(Objectivism)
or

realities Singular

from shaped by researchers multiple realities.

prior

is perception

Pragmatism

to

illustrate perspectives.

reject different perspectives.

Epistemology: What

is

Distance and impartiality Closeness (e.g. researchers Practicality

(e.g.

the (e.g. researchers objectively visit participants at their researchers

collect

relationship between collect

the researcher and instruments.)
that

data

on sites to collect data)

It

is

cased

being Acceptable knowledge is perceptions

researched?

on
of

data by what work

the to address research
the question).

gained through sense and is individuals about the world. Objective

What is regarded as objectively real. (Objective) (Subjective)

Subjective

acceptable
knowledge and how
we know it?

Axiology: -

Unbiased (e.g. researchers Biased

(e.g.

researchers Multiple

What is the role of use checks to eliminate actively talk about their (e.g.
values?

bias)

biases and interpretations)

stances.
researchers

include both biased

and

unbiased

perspectives)

Rhetoric: What

is

language
research?

Formal

style

(e.g. Informal style. (e.g. Formal

or

the researchers use agree researchers write in informal

of on

definitions

of literary,

variables)

(e.g.

informal researchers

style)

may

employ

both formal and

informal styles
of writing).
5

Methodology: - Deductive
What

is

process
research?

the researchers
of priori theory)

(e.g. Inductive
test

(e.g. Combining (e.g.

a researchers start with researchers

participants

views collect

both

and build up to Quantitative

patterns, theories and and Qualitative
generalizations)

data and mix

them )

6 Strategies
Inquiry

of Surveys, experiments Grounded

and field work

theory, Sequential,

ethnography,

case concurrent and

study and narratives transformative.

7

Methods

Closed

ended Open

ended Both open and

questions,

questions,

predetermined

approaches, and text questions; both

approaches

and image analysis. emerging

numerical
statistical

emerging closed

data, (Qualitative)
analysis

(Quantitative)

ended
and

predetermined
approaches;
both
quantitative
and qualitative
data
analysis.

and

Purpose of the Literature Review

The literature review in a research study accomplishes several purposes
that are as follows:
1. Distinguishing what has been done from what needs to be done
2. Discovering important variables relevant to the topic Synthesizing
and gaining a new perspective
3. Identifying relationships between ideas and practice
4. Establishing the context of the topic or problem
5. Rationalizing the significance of the problem
6. Enhancing and acquiring the subject vocabulary
7. understanding the structure of the subject
8. relating ideas and theory to applications
9. identifying the main methodologies and research techniques that
have been used
10.placing the research in a historical context to show familiarity
with state-of-the-art developments